William was 41 years in 1916 and lived at 115, Silvermere Road, Catford together with his wife Jane Sarah, nee Bradshaw. They had married on 2 May 1900 in Bow Baptist Chapel and by 1916 had 5 children, Emmie, Annie Elizabeth, William Cyril Samuel, Eva and Arthur James.. His father William Henry lived at 181 High Street Deptford and his brother Arthur Edwin Raitt was also a conscientious objector.

William was a Seventh Day Adventist and worked as a Missionary Canvasser.
He was granted exemption from serving as a combatant by a Military Service Tribunal.
He accepted conscription into the Non Combatant Corps on 12.12.16 and served with the 1st Company in Aldershot until he was demobbed on 2 April 1919.
He died on 20 February 1945 at 60 Vicarage Road Watford, the National